Arm fins for underwater swimming



Aug. 2, 1960 c. RABIN 2,947,010 ARM FINS FOR UNDERWATER SWIMMING FiledSept. 50, 1958 /5 22 24 Charles Rabin INVENTOR.

s, l l l 2,941,010 I ARM FINS FOR UNDERWATER SWIMMING Charles Rabin,21-20 iFagot St, Metaire, La. Filed 'se tiso, 195s, Ser. No. 764,318

' 6 Claims 01. 9-307 The present invention generally relates to an armattachment and more particularly to a fin attached to each arm which isespecially adapted for use in underwater swimming.

In recent years, there has been extensive use of equipment enablingpersons to stay under water for relatively long periods of time Withoutthe use of cumbersome and heavy diving suits. This equipment isgenerally known as skin diving equipment generally including foot finsfor attachment to the feet for facilitating swimming under water.However, the hands are used in the normal swimming motion when swimmingunder water since heretofore there has been no provision for increasingthe effectiveness of the hands and arms when swimming under water.Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to providefins for attachment to the arms at the elbows for purposes of increasingthe efiectiveness of the arms when swimming under water and leaving thehands free for other purposes such as carrying an instrument such as anunderwater gun or the like.-

Another object of the present invention is to provide arm finsfor'underwater swimming which are generally in collapsed position whenthe arm is in straight condition and unfolded to an extended conditionwhen the elbow is bent whereby inward and outward movement of the elbowin relation to the body will cause the fins to operate somewhat in thenature of a fish tail for propelling the swimmer through the water.

Another important feature of the present invention is to provide armfins which are easy to attach, etficient in operation, simple andlonglasting and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of an arm fin of the present inventionattached to the arm with the fin being folded and the arm straight;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an arm fin showing the arm bent andthe fin unfolded into extended position;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the arm fin;

Figure 4 is a plan sectional view taken substantially I upon a planepassing along section line 4--4 of Figure 3 illustrating theconstruction of the fin; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantiallyv upon a planepassing along section line 55 of Figure 3. Referring now specifically tothe drawings, the arm fin of the present invention is generallydesignated by the numeral and while there is a single fin illustrated inthe drawings, it will be understood that a pair of fins is V providedwith each of the fins being attached to the arm 12 at the elbow region14.

The arm fin 10 includes a tubular flexible sleeve 16 having a notch 18centrally therein and having a longi- States Patent Patented Aug. 2,,1960 tudinal slit extending therethrough with the slit or slotlikeopening being designated by the numeral 20 and facing the forwardsurface of the arm 12 when worn. The sleeve 16 is adapted to be worn onthe arm 12 to extend above and below the elbow joint of the arm. Thenotch 18 facilitates folding of the sleeve 16 into a generally arcuatecondition into elbow form. Above and below the notch 18 and on oppositesides of the sleeve 16 is attached a strap 22 having a plurality offemale snap fastener elements 24 thereon for engagement with a male snapfastener element 26 on the opposite sideof the sleeve 16 therebyretaining the sleeve 16 in encircling relation to the arm 12 of theperson wearing the device with the notch 18 being aligned with the elbowregion so that the notch 18 will facilitate the folding of the sleeve 16into acute angular relation from the condition shown in Figure l to thecondition shown in Figure 2.

On the side of the sleeve 16 opposite from the slotlike opening 20 is aplurality of outwardly extending and generally diverging ribs 28 whichare interconnected by flexible webs 30 which are integral with the ribs28. Two of the ribs 28 are disposed at opposite sides of the transversecenter of the sleeve 16 and a third intermediate rib 28. The webs 30fold so that the ribs 23 may be disposed generally in parallel relationto each other when the fin 10 is in retracted or folded condition withthe arm 12 being straight. sleeve 16 are bent at the elbow region, thesleeve 16 is folded and stretched into elbow form by movement of theforearm to bend the elbow, whereby the ribs 28 are caused to assume afanwise arrangement, the webs 30 to straighten out and the ribs 28 aredisposed in diverging relation as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Also theribs 28 stiffen the fin and limit the fiexure thereof,

In using the fin in underwater swimming, the elbows 14 are bent in theusual manner and by pivoting the arms and elbows 14 outwardly andinwardly in relation to the sides of the wearer, the fins willeffectively act as a fish tail for forcing or propelling the wearerthrough the water. This leaves the hands free for other purposes sincethey do not have to be used in underwater swimming. In considering theposition shown in Figure 2, assume that the person wearing the device isdisposed generally horizontally and the elbow 14 is moved out wardly andinwardly while the hands are held generally in the same position and dueto the flexibility of the fins, the person wearing the same will beeffectively propelled through the water.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scop of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An arm fin for underwater swimming comprising a sleeve of flexiblematerial slit for encircling an arm, strap means on said sleeve forsecuring the sleeve in encircling relation to an arm above and below theelbow with the transverse center of the sleeve coinciding with the elbowjoint for folding movement of the sleeve from a straight position intoelbow form .by bending the arm wardly from said sleeve, said ribs beinginterconnected by flexible webs with the webs and ribs lying in a singlelongitudinal plane, said ribs being disposed in parallel relation whenthe sleeve is straight such as when the arm is straightened and beingdisposed on opposite sides of the transverse center of they sleeve toassume diverging relation to each other in response to folding of thesleeve When the arm 12 and.

U into elbow form in conformance with bending of the elbow and therebyextending the webs into a fin so that inward and outward movement of theelbow in relation to the body of the person wearing the fin will causethe fin to act in 'the nature of a fish tail for propelling the wearerthrough the water.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said sleeve is provided witha notch-like recess in the center thereof for registry with the elbowjoint region for facilitating folding of the sleeve.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securingthe sleeve on the arm includes a pair of flexible straps each having oneend attached to the sleeve and the other end detachably connectedthereto on the opposite sides of the slit in the sleeve.

4. For use in underwater swimming, at flexible sleeve for attachment toan arm of a swimmer at the elbow joint region for folding at the regionof its transverse center into elbow form from a straight condition inresponse to bending of the elbow of the arm, radial ribs on said sleeveat opposite sides of the transverse center of the sleeve for operationof one rib into diverging rela tion to another in response to folding ofthe sleeve on an arm into elbow form, and a web connecting said ribs andpulled taut in response to operation of said one rib into divergingrelation to another rib.

5. The structure defined in claim 4, said sleeve having a notch thereinto facilitate folding thereof.

6. The structure as defined in claim 4, and a rib on said sleeve atsubstantially the transverse, center of the sleeve and to which 'saidweb is also connected.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,802,22 Magone --,.---v-.- A g- 1 .9 7

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